Ditching-machine.



A. B. LATHAM & P. F. COOK, JR.

DITCHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 050.4. 1912.

1,178,523. Patented Apr. 1 1,- 1916.

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m'ronrne-macnrun Application filed December 4, 1912. Serial no; 734,923.

a simple and efiicient machine for terracing hillsides, for cleaning ditches and for other like uses.

A further object of the invention is to 7 construct a slmple and efficient terrace builder and ditch cleaner which may be easily and effectively guided when in operation and which, when not in use, may be folded into small compass for storage and transportation.

With these and other ends in view which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claim. In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of the claim may be resorted to when desired. In the drawings,-Figure 1 is a side view of a ditching machine constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a top plan view, showing the machine extended and ready for use.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by like characters of reference. The body or center portion of the im implement consists of a plate 1 having at its forward end a swelled breast portion 2 provided with a downwardly offset curved or rounded earth engaging cutting portion 2, and-with an upwardly extending neck3having aperturesel: for the attachment of a suitable draft member, not shown. The top and bottom edges of the plate 1 converge rearwardly in rear of the breast portion 2, the rounded earth engaging portion of which projects downwardly a material distance below the lower edge of the plate 1,

Specification of Letters Patent.

' 6 consisting of movement of the wings, folded closely against Patented Apr. 11, 1916.

the latter being provided with vertical ribs 5 which are forwardly beveled so as to merge with the breast portion.

The center plate 1 is provided with side wings 7 ,eonstituting mold boards or ditching blades. These wings are connected with the center plate by means of fastening members 'arcuate rods extending loosely through the center plate land also through. apertures in the respective wings,

said rods being provided "with terminal heads 6 which limit the outward swinging which latter may be the center plate, as seen in Fig. 6. The fastening members 6 are arranged invertical series to the rearward of the ribs 5 from whichv the several fastening members are equally spaced. The

wings 7 are provided near their rear ends with handles 8 whereby they and the implement may be manipulated.

Secured on the inner faces of the wings near the rear ends of the latter, by means of pivots 9, are plates or lugs 10 with which links or braces 11 are hingedly connected, said links being adapted to be extended through the center plate, overlapped with respect to one another, and said links being provided with slots 13 for the passage of a bolt 14, which also extends through an apertured lug 15-on the side of the center plate. It will be readily seen that by means of the bolt 1 1 the wings may be firmly secured at various adjustments with respect to the center plate, and that by disengaging the slotted brace members or links from the bolts,'said brace members may be folded upon the inner faces of the wings, thereby enabling the implement to be folded very compactly for storage or transportation. The links or braces 11 are made tapering or wedge-shaped, as will-be clearly seen in Figs. 2, 5 and 8, said links being relatively thin at their outer ends. It follows that when the lings are placed in overlapping relation and are connected together by the bolt 14, they will serve to resist external pressure upon the wings 7 and will said links being tion of the center plate bulges slightly below the lower edges of the wings, and thuforms a SOll engaging cuttlng membei whereby the implement is securely guided when in operation. The Wings constitute scrapers whereby the dirt is displaced laterally, as will be readily understood, and it will be seen that the wings may be spaced variously apart at their rear ends and may be securely maintained at various adjustments. For storage and transportation the implement may be folded into small compass. The forward edges of the wings are set in behind the beveled ribs 5 and will, therefore, not obstruct the progress of the machine. The general construction is very simple and inexpensive, and the implement is one of great practical utility.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed as new, is

In a machine of the class described, a center plate having a breast portion with a downwardly ofl set curved earth engaging cutting portion and vertically disposed beveled ribs defining the breast portion, said breast portion having also an upwardly ex- Copies nay be ending neck with which adjacent to the two sides draft appliances of wings disposed connected, a pair of the center plate with the front edges of said wings abutting on the vertically disposed rlbs, an arcuate connecting through the center plate rectly in rear of the front said connecting member heads at the ends thereof,

extending loosely and the wings diedges of the wings, having permanent and means wher member by the wings adjacent to the rearward ends thereof wardly are adjustably connected With each the center plate, the clownoii'set cutting portion of the center plate extending materially below the lower edges of the win s, and said wings bemg provided with handles whereby the machine may be guided and lated.

In testimony whereof we afliX our they and manipunatures in presence of two witnesses.

ABIJAH B. PIN KN IE F.

LATHAM. COOK, JR.

itnesses H. A. DAVENPORT, B. C. HOLOOMBE.

of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by

Washington, D. 0.

addressing the Commissioner of Patents, 

